Tehran Terror Attacks Draw More Global Condemnations

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Condemnations continue to rain in following the deadly terrorist attacks that killed 17 and wounded 42 others in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Wednesday.

Late on Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel strongly denounced the terrorist attacks in the Iranian capital.

"I condemn the attacks in the Iranian parliament building and at the mausoleum of revolutionary leader (Imam) Khomeini in the strongest possible terms. Once again, unscrupulous criminals have killed many innocent people,” Gabriel said, Reuters reported.

“Where terror knows no bounds, there must be no limits to our empathy and humanity. We share in the grief of the people in Iran. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims. We hope that the many people injured will make a swift and full recovery,” he added.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also slammed the raids and said, "We extend our deep condolences and sympathy for the victims and their families, and the Iranian people."

Also, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan on Thursday sent condolences to his Iranian counterpart following the "the horrific crime".

"His Highness Sheikh Khalifa expressed his sincere condolences to the Iranian people and the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery," the message to President Hassan Rouhani said.

“We strongly condemn the attacks that targeted the Iranian parliament and the Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum in Tehran,” the ministry said in a statement.

India, too, slammed the raids and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj “condemned today's terrorist attacks on institutions of democracy and spirituality in Tehran” during a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Indian ministry said in a statement.

“She offered sincere condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed solidarity with the people and the government of Iran,” the statement said.

The Omani Foreign Ministry also censured the acts of terrorism, voicing Muscat’s strong opposition to acts of terror and violence, which are meant to create insecurity and instability, shed the blood of innocent people and grip ordinary people by fear.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev extended his condolences to the Iranian nation and government, saying that the bloody incidents show that terrorism has turned out to be a growing menace for the entire world, and all its forms must be collectively and persistently addressed.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Head of the High Peace Council Mohammad Karim Khalili and former president Hamid Karzai also expressed their deep grief over the deadly attacks, commiserating with the families of the victims.

The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement strongly condemned the two terrorist attacks, stressing that they were meant to target Iran’s security and its support for the anti-Israel resistance front.

The latest crime in Tehran is the outcome of a destructive plan drawn up by recognized sponsors of terror in the region, Hezbollah said in a statement, adding it is highly expected that regional and international tensions, which have lately affected the Middle East, will spiral in the future.

Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement Islamic Jihad, in a press statement, said the criminal acts sought to target the Islamic Republic of Iran’s role in supporting the anti-Israel resistance front and fight against terrorism.

The movement also offered its condolences and expressed solidarity with the Iranian leadership, government and people.

Bolivian President Evo Morales expressed his country’s solidarity with Iran.

“We condemn the violence that threatens life,” he tweeted on Wednesday.

Greek Foreign Ministry also flatly denounced the terror attacks in the Iranian capital.

“Athens condemns any act of terror carried out under any excuse. Concrete and practical measures must be adopted in order to tackle the menace of terrorism,” the ministry said in a statement.

Bahrain’s opposition February 14 Revolution Youth Coalition and the Islamic Action Society deplored the attacks, describing them as desperate attempts to break the nation’s will for the establishment of justice in the Middle East.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in a post published on his Twitter account said, “Our sympathies are with the people of Iran following the despicable terrorist attack. It is time for the world to unite against this scourge.”

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz was also among senior diplomats condemning the terrorist attacks in the Iranian capital.

“I condemn today’s attacks in Tehran and express my condolences to the families and friends of the victims,” he tweeted.

Algeria condemned the attacks targeting the Iranian parliament building and the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in Tehran, terming them “criminal acts.”

“Targeting human lives in this holy month reaffirms the disrespect of the perpetrators of these abhorrent crimes for all religious, moral and humanitarian values. These attacks will not discourage the international community from working and coordinating together in order to confront terrorists and their destructive plans,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Aziz bin Ali al-Sharif said in a statement.

He added, “We express our solidarity with the government and people of Iran and renew our condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, whatever the motives could be. Such moves pose threats to the harmony of societies in addition to the security and stability of nations.”

Georgia, the Republic of Ireland, Lithuania, Qatar, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Jordan and Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government were also among the countries that slammed the attacks.

On Wednesday morning, terrorists launched simultaneous attacks on Iran’s parliament building in downtown Tehran and on the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini, south of the city.

Dressed as women, the assailants attacked the parliament buildings in the morning. Equipped with AK-47 assault rifles, handguns and suicide vests, the gunmen killed security guards and ordinary people before holding people hostage in the upper floors of the building.

They were all killed by the security forces after an operation that took several hours.

In the other attack at the shrine of Imam Khomeini, one suicide bomber blew himself up while the second one was killed in an exchange of gunfire.

The death toll from Wednesday's incidents in Tehran grew to 17, while more than 40 others have been wounded.